[borgey]

I've decided on an E-Bike (Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Comp 6Fattie). Its MSRP is $7,169 CAN (total price including tax approximately $8,000 CAN).

The bike shop does not have the bike on the floor (ie in stock). To order the bike, the shop wants me to pay the full price upfront.

I expected they would only ask for a deposit.

2 out of 2 bikes I previously asked a bike shop to order came with paint ships. I hadn't paid the full price upfront for those bikes, and in both cases the manufacturer discounted the bikes 10 or 20% to compensate for the paint chips.

I'm afraid to pay the full price upfront, for the bike shop to order the bike.
If the bike should arrive with any defects, I would have no clout. The shop said I need to "have faith" and "trust". They refused even to consider writing a contract.

This is the most expensive bike I will purchase.
If you want a bike that your bike shop does not have in stock,

for the shop to order the bike, do you pay the full price upfront first?​

 

[Kontact]

You don't have to accept damaged stuff that you pre-paid for. If it comes with paint chips they can refund a discount or you can take your money back.

I imagine they want full payment because they don't expect to sell the bike if you don't take it home.

As far as MSRP, does this shop charge full MSRP for other bikes they sell? If not, ask them to charge you the same percentage of MSRP they sell other bikes for.

 

[wesb321]

Sounds normal to me.

When I bought my CAAD10 a few years back I wanted the anodized black. They only stocked the green and white ones. I had to pay for it fully on my debit card and it came in like 8 days later.

I figure a company probably loses a lot of $ shipping bikes back and forth when customers change their mind so this pay in full policy cuts down on the BS. Now for work orders or parts it's usually pay 20% up front and the rest at pick up.

 

[kjdhawkhill]

I’ve never owned, purchased or special ordered a moped. When I ordered a bicycle at about half the price of the moped you’re asking about, I didn’t pay a nickel upfront, but that might be because the shoppies were some of my regular riding partners, or it could have been because I asked them to order it over the phone and the CC companies charge a higher fee for over the phone runs than actual swipes...

If I were a shop owner and someone wanted a moped from my main line bicycle supplier, and it was a regular customer, I’d probably charge them more than the discount price they’d eventually get (so MSRP). Chalk the overage up to taxes and offer a refund of whatever discount percentage when they came to pick it up.

If joe-never-been-in-before asks for anything other than MSRP on a special order $7k bike or moped, I’d charge full MSRP up front without question.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[factory feel]

you mean it was delivered to you with chipped paint, not extra paint chips?

 

[mik_git]

as I said on the exact same thread over on mtbr, I've been offered 20% deposit on special order bikes but paid up front, doesn't bother me, I'm buying the bike, if I have the cash I'm paying for it at some point maybe as well be when I order it.

 

[tony_mm]

I had to put 50% as a deposit (Canada/ BC).

 

[ceugene]

I put ~$1200 down for a $3600 frame when they ordered it. It depends on how well they shop knows you as well. Since that purchase, I rarely have to put a deposit down for special orders.

 

[ljvb]

I paid full price on my Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0 (10% discount on $5k bike) when ordered it. I received the bike about 4 months later. The store does not typically stock the higher end models because they sit on the floor for a while. I was offered the opportunity to just put down 50%, but I'm friends with the owners, and I did not want to put them out, and having a kid and wife.. the money may have been spent while waiting..

 

[11spd]

or....you can hang out and just steal the bike you like and then take the wife on a nice vacation. Your choice.

Btw, did the shop tell you the top speed for the 6Fattie? Wonder if its different between CA and US?


PS: when you get the bike, can you post a pic of the speed sensor for Kontact because he responded to this thread? He will want to know including why it is necessary including relationship with the nearest galaxy.

 

[Lombard]

I would pay no more than half of their asking price as a deposit, then the other half on delivery.

That being said, for a $7,000 bike, a $2,000 deposit would be more than reasonable. They need to protect themselves in case you change your mind - especially if it's a bike that would be difficult to sell. Few people would be willing to walk away from $2000.

Asking for the whole value up front is a red flag IMHO. Once they have that, there is no incentive for them to obtain the bike in a timely manner. As the saying goes "You stop running once you catch the bus".

 

[borgey]

or....you can hang out and just steal the bike you like and then take the wife on a nice vacation. Your choice.

Btw, did the shop tell you the top speed for the 6Fattie? Wonder if its different between CA and US?


PS: when you get the bike, can you post a pic of the speed sensor for Kontact because he responded to this thread? He will want to know including why it is necessary including relationship with the nearest galaxy.

The shop didn't tell me anything about the top speed of the 6Fattie; but I did read it is 20mph or 32km/hr (apparently the same as in the US).

I don't know right now anything about the speed sensor on the bike; but once I get it, I'll find it and post a pic.

 

[tlg]

Make sure to pay the deposit with a credit card. That way if there's problems, you can refuse delivery and dispute the charges.

 

[OldZaskar]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact you're buying something they have very little and/or bad experience selling/stocking. As kjdhawkhill pointed out - it's really a $7,000 moped. I wonder if you'd have to pony up the full price if you were buying a 56cm Tarmac.

 

[Jay Strongbow]

I've decided on an E-Bike (Specialized Turbo Levo FSR Comp 6Fattie). Its MSRP is $7,169 CAN (total price including tax approximately $8,000 CAN).

The bike shop does not have the bike on the floor (ie in stock). To order the bike, the shop wants me to pay the full price upfront.

I expected they would only ask for a deposit.

2 out of 2 bikes I previously asked a bike shop to order came with paint ships. I hadn't paid the full price upfront for those bikes, and in both cases the manufacturer discounted the bikes 10 or 20% to compensate for the paint chips.

I'm afraid to pay the full price upfront, for the bike shop to order the bike.
If the bike should arrive with any defects, I would have no clout. The shop said I need to "have faith" and "trust". They refused even to consider writing a contract.

This is the most expensive bike I will purchase.
If you want a bike that your bike shop does not have in stock,

for the shop to order the bike, do you pay the full price upfront first?​

I don't see what purpose your question serves. If you don't want to do it don't do it. A stranger on the internet having done, or not done, that isn't going to help you with anything.

 

[borgey]

I don't see what purpose your question serves. If you don't want to do it don't do it. A stranger on the internet having done, or not done, that isn't going to help you with anything.

Sorry you don't see what purpose my question serves.

The purpose of my question is to find out whether paying upfront is the expected and usual practice.

 

[Jay Strongbow]

Sorry you don't see what purpose my question serves.

The purpose of my question is to find out whether paying upfront is the expected and usual practice.

Well yeah, I do understand the purpose of a question is the get the answer. Let me re-phrase: I don't understand what purpose the answer serves.

To quote all our grandparents: "if everyone jumped off a bridge......"

My point is it doesn't matter what other people have done or what's ordinary. Either you are comfortable with it or you are not. You need to think for yourself here and do, or don't do, what your comfort level decides for you....not what strangers on the internet do especially considering they'd be doing it at a different bike shop and know nothing about yours as far as trustworthyness goes.

 

[Jwiffle]

I do typically ask for the full price up front when special ordering a bike at my shop. A 50% deposit is ok, usually, but i generally ask for the whole payment up front (50% doesn't even come close to covering my costs should the customer decide to back out). If it is a bike I believe I would have a hard time reselling, like the bike in question, I would definitely require full payment up front.

And despite Lombard's assertion, asking for the whole value up front is no red flag. Nor does it give me no incentive to obtain the bike quickly. In fact, quite the opposite. Now that one has paid, I really want to get it in and get the customer riding on it as quickly as possible.

Also, OP, you can refuse the bike if it comes in with paint chips and make them get the manufacturer send another. Likely, the manufacturer would ask if you would accept a discount like you did at other times, then the shop would just refund you an amount of the discount.

 

[rideit]

I figure a company probably loses a lot of $ shipping bikes back and forth when customers change their mind so this pay in full policy cuts down on the BS. Now for work orders or parts it's usually pay 20% up front and the rest at pick up.

I owned a shop for a long time...companies will basically NEVER take a bike back once it's been shipped to the retailer. If you ordered it, it's yours (unless the bike is in ultra high demand or some other factor).
Dealer eats it.

 

[11spd]

Well yeah, I do understand the purpose of a question is the get the answer. Let me re-phrase: I don't understand what purpose the answer serves.

To quote all our grandparents: "if everyone jumped off a bridge......"

My point is it doesn't matter what other people have done or what's ordinary. Either you are comfortable with it or you are not. You need to think for yourself here and do, or don't do, what your comfort level decides for you....not what strangers on the internet do especially considering they'd be doing it at a different bike shop and know nothing about yours as far as trustworthyness goes.

Jay, no foul in the OP asking to get a concensus.
Me personally, and a bit OT from general practice of downpayment, for $7K I would do a ton of research on a custom E-fattie that will out spec the spec-ialized bike which many believe is well overpriced for what you get. I for example would never buy an E-bike with a top speed limited to 20 mph. Further, I almost NEVER pay retail for anything. Even the world of E-bikes is getting crowded. For $7K for an E-fattie, I would build custom with 750-1KW motor, stronger battery and custom everything. One can buy a pretty nice motorcycle for that amount as well as a data point.